County Launches Community Budget Priorities Survey

The County of Riverside is enhancing opportunities for community participation in its annual budget process with the launch of a budget priorities survey.

Residents are invited to provide input into how county taxpayer dollars are spent across county departments and services for the upcoming fiscal year.

The survey is part of an expanded effort to give Riverside County residents more opportunities to voice their opinions earlier in the budget development process.

“The goal is to make our budget process more inclusive and responsive to the needs of our diverse communities,” said Board Chair Chuck Washington, Third District Supervisor. “I’m excited to invite the community to help guide decisions that will impact the future of our region.”

The survey is available online in both English and Spanish. Participants can identify services of greater need in their areas, as well as indicate categories of spending to receive more or less funding. The County encourages all to participate.

To further enhance public engagement, the County will also host five budget workshops throughout the county in early 2025. This ensures accessibility for residents across the vast geographic area of Riverside County.

These workshops, will provide an opportunity for residents to learn about the budget process, share their perspectives, and offer input ahead of the annual budget hearings in June.  More details on the workshops will be posted in early 2025.

“Engaging the community earlier in our budget planning is critical to ensuring that we are addressing the needs and priorities of our residents,” said Riverside County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen. “This survey is a demonstration of the County's commitment to transparency and accountability. Community feedback will be used during the budget process to improve quality of life across the county. This is an important step, and we look forward to hearing from our community.”

Residents are encouraged to access the survey and provide their feedback in either English and Spanish. The survey will remain open until March 2025. The results will help inform decisions on the County’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts July 1.

For more information about the budget priorities survey, please visit rivco.org/budget-information.

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